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Deakin University ability, flexibility and ease of use.
Its design is based on current opera-
gets smart tions around the world as well as human
machine interface insights. Ability NGX
Victoria’s Deakin University has signed can also complement existing ABB ser-
a MoU with software company MineEx- vices such as Ability Safety Plus and Abil-
cellence to investigate how artificial intel- ity Performance Optimisation, the latter of
ligence can support drill and blast opera- which tracks hoist status to improve uptime,
tions. availability, performance and productivity
Deakin’s Applied Artificial Intelligence In- through key indicators.
stitute (AAII) division will explore improving ABB vice president Max Luedtke said the
efficiency and safety in the mining practice. company’s newest product is just the latest
Initial works have already started with the in innovation, reflecting on a company his-
involvement of a co-funded PhD student. tory that spawned in the 1890s.
MineExcellence is a digital technology “The health and safety of people working
service company with expertise in drill and in mines – from our people to our custom-
blast operations as well as controlled explo- ers’ employees – is of paramount impor-
sives for excavation. tance at ABB,” Luedtke said.
“Our research in this area aims to pioneer “ABB Ability NGX Hoist Control is the lat-
new methods and approaches that deliver est example of this and follows the develop-
high impact results to drilling and blasting, ment of ABB Ability Safety Plus for hoists
making the process safer and more effi- and of autonomous solutions including
cient,” AAII head of translational research ventilation on demand and digital services. New dozers being trialled at Rio Tinto’s Gudai-
professor Rajesh Vasa said. Together, these improve the quality of the Darri mine seem all but ordinary from the outside
“AAII has a proven track record of posi- working environment, and enable remote – except the vehicle is controlled remotely from
tively impacting society, spanning health, supervision and autonomous operation, re- a command centre, removing the driver from
education and defence technologies. Now moving operators from hazardous areas.” harm’s way
we are expanding to the mining industry.
“Our institute possesses the expertise to Tinto management said Gudai-Darri could
enhance mining processes. We look for- Rio Tinto pushes be one of the world’s most technologi-
ward to collaborating with MineExcellence on dozer tech cally advanced mines after production is
on this project and sharing outcomes in the achieved later this year. The mine will boast
near future.” Automated and remote technologies a fleet of autonomous haul trucks, water
have quickly become a new standard carts and drill rigs.
Rio Tinto superintendent of process and
ABB hoists latest in mine site safety and the latest in this technical Michelle Woolcock said the pur-
movement has seen Rio Tinto plc pursue
innovation remote-controlled dozers. pose of the dozer technology was to man-
In collaboration with WesTrac and Cat- age potential safety risks associated with
Automated technology company ABB erpillar, Rio Tinto has rolled out the tele- the vehicles.
seeks to standardise the modern mine’s remote dozing system (TDS) at its Cape “The brief was to take the operator out
hoist system with its latest product, the Abil- Lambert Port facility northeast of Karratha. of the line of fire, in particular to reduce the
ity NGX Hoist Control. TDS takes the driver out of the dozer’s cab risks associated with slipping or stability is-
The new system, which was unveiled in and into a nearby remote operator station. sues, for example when they were working
May, can adapt to any existing hoist to re- Each dozer has four mounted cameras, on stockpilers or close to steep walls,” she
place outdated or third party systems. relaying vision and information in real time said.
Ability NGX is a global control system through a Wi-Fi network. TDS ultimately re- Rio Tinto superintendent operational
that targets maximum performance and moves human workers from high-risk areas. readiness Jamie Webster said there re-
safety of operations. ABB has described TDS will be rolled out across Rio’s mine mained room in the system to better its
it as “next-generation” for its improved reli-
sites, including the Gudai-Darri mine. Rio efficiency.

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